Harley Flanagan

Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

News

Cro-Mags Return With 'Don't Give In' EP, Their First New Release In 19 Years

Facebook Twitter Email
The Harley Flanagan-led lineup drops new music the frontman describes as "Metallica meets Minor Threat"
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 28, 2019 - 4:00 pm

Hardcore heroes Cro-Mags released their first new music in 19 years today, dropping the 3-song Don't Give In EP.

The band's lineup on the EP consists of Haley Flanagan, who won sole ownership of the Cro-Mags name in a legal settlement, on lead vocals and bass Gabby Abularach and Rocky George on guitar and Garry Sullivan on drums. As a result of the settlement, there is a separate iteration of Cro-Mags known as “Cro-Mags JM” featuring John Joseph, Mackie Jayson, A.J. Novello and Craig Setari, according to Consequence of Sound.

The new EP marks the first release under the Cro-Mags name since 2000's Revenge. After teasing on Instagram that the new music sounds like "Metallica meets Minor Threat," Flanagan described how the EP came together with Victory Records and Arising Empire in a statement: 

"I got a strange phone call in the middle of the night that turned out to be from Tony Brummel of Victory Records,” Flanagan said. “I thought it was a prank call; it turned out not to be, and I worked out record deals with Victory and Arising Empire in Europe. One of the many things that make me happy about signing with Victory and Arising Empire is that they are genuinely fans of my music and know the history; they are not just labels trying to make money off us or the genre.”

Don’t Give In is available digitally here, with a 7″ vinyl version due out Aug. 2.

The Velvet Underground's 'The Complete Matrix Tapes' Is Coming To Vinyl

SoundCloud

Photo Illustration: Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

News

SoundCloud Unveils New Artist Marketing Tool Called Promote

Facebook Twitter Email
Premier-tier users of the digital service can now self-manage their own promotional efforts to boost plays and grow audience
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Nov 12, 2019 - 3:35 pm

SoundCloud artists who have upgrated to Premier, the platform's premium-tier membership, now have a new promotional tool in their tool belt. Today the digital service launced Promote, a self-service feature empowering creators to boost plays and lift their songs to the top of listeners' feeds and mobile pages.

With Promote, Premier users can set their own budget and adjust advanced targeting options to, as SoundCloud's website puts it, "Get your music in front of our global tastemaker community." The promotional tool also allows artists to interact with fans and build real-time connections on the platform.

This new feature comes as part of the existing Premier plan, where artists get free distribution to every major music service with fast, direct payouts as well as, "Earn industry-leading revenue share on SoundCloud and keep 100 percent of your payouts from other services."

In order for artists to qualify for Premier and access the new Promote tool, they must be age 18 or older, be posting original music and have no copyright strikes against them and a minimum of 1,000 monetizable track plays on SoundCloud.

For more information, visit SoundCloud's Premier page.

Grammys Newsletter

How New Artists Can Build A Following In 2019, According To SoundCloud

 

 

Ozzy Osbourne

Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

News

Ozzy Osbourne Returns: Hear The First Song From His Upcoming 2020 Album

Facebook Twitter Email
The Ozzman cometh back with the first single off a new album he calls the "most important album I have done in a very long time"
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Nov 8, 2019 - 4:40 pm

Heavy metal forefather Ozzy Osbourne dropped a new single today, "Under the Graveyard," from his forthcoming 2020 ablum, Ordinary Man. Have a listen:

The song's acoustic guitars and eerie atmosphere underlie its tormented lyrics, exploding into a dark, pop hook before giving way to a Sabbath-esque shuffle breakdown, synth-guitar solo and epic final chorus round, where all the song's elements seem to close in on the listener ominously. 

The album will be Ozzy's first solo effort in almost a decade and first return to recording Black Sabbath's 2013 Rick Rubin-produced album, 13.

This time around, Osbourne worked with producer Andrew Watt, who also played guitars on the album. Guns 'N Roses' Duff McKagen handles bass on the album and Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith plays drums.

Osborne met Watt while working on Post Malone's "Take What You Want" from Malone's 2019 album Hollywood's Bleeding. The song also features Travis Scott., and Watt has also worked with artists such as Justin Bieber and Cardi B. The unlikely collaboration came at the suggestion of Osborne's daughter, Kelly, and even though Ozzy had not heard of the rapper, the song was a success and led to Osbourne and Watt collaborating on the upcoming nine-song album.

“This is quite possibly the most important album I have done in a very long time, probably since [1991's] No More Tears,” Osbourne said in a statement. One of its singles, “I Don’t Want to Change the World,” won a GRAMMY for Best Metal Performance With Vocal over 25 years ago. 

Ordinary Man is due out in early 2020. Ozzy will hit the road for his No More Tours 2 trek, which resumes in Europe in January before hitting the States May 27 in Atlanta with Judas Priest opening. For more info, visit Osbourne's website.

Marilyn Manson To Headline Second Annual ASTROWORLD Festival

 

 

Alan Jackson

Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images

News

Alan Jackson Announces 2020 U.S. Tour

Facebook Twitter Email
The "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" singer announces a sprawling 18-date run spanning most of next year
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Nov 7, 2019 - 3:44 pm

GRAMMY-winning country music megastar Alan Jackson might just be kicking up dust in your town in 2020. The Georgia-born, Nashville-based singer announced an 18-show tour that stretches across the U.S. and most of next year.

The run kicks off Jan. 10 in Cincinatti, Ohio, and wrapping Oct. 3 in Denver, Colo., with notables stop along the way in Atlanta on Valentine's Day, at Stagecoach in Indio, Calif. on Apr. 26, and his first show in Nashville in three years, set for Aug. 7 at Bridgestone Arena.

Tour openers are still yet to be announced, but according to a statement, "Many of the tour stops will showcase some of Jackson’s favorite rising stars who play at AJ’s Good Time Bar, his self-owned honky-tonk on downtown Nashville’s famed 'Lower Broadway.'" 

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriting Hall of Fame, Jackson's racked up 20 GRAMMY nominations and two wins in his 30-plus-year career. His most recent album is 2015's Angels And Alcohol.

Tickets for some shows are available now with other dates going on-sale soon. Visit Jackson's website for a full list of dates and ticket info.

Charley Pride Honored With GRAMMY Museum Mississippi's Inaugural Crossroads Of American Music Award

Grammys Newsletter

Metallica

Photo: Ross Halfin

News

Metallica Fight Fire With Fire, Pledge $100K In Relief For California Wildfires

Facebook Twitter Email
The thrash metal pioneers' All Within My Hands non-profit foundation steps in to help those affected by the recent fires in Northern and Southern California... Find out how you can help
GRAMMYs
Nov 5, 2019 - 4:23 pm

Metallica have donated a total of $100,000 through their non-profit foundation, All Within My Hands, to help victims of the California wildfires taking place over the past month. The band made the announcement online, encouraging their fans to add donations of own to either the Sonoma County Resilience Fund or the Wildfire Relief Fund, each of whom will receieve $50k from the Bay Area-based GRAMMY winners. 

"Both organizations are dedicated to long-term recovery efforts, helping residents resume normal lives as they get back on their feet after the devastation of these firestorms," they wrote. "We would also like to encourage you to join us in supporting those in need as well as the first responders who have been working tirelessly to keep Californians safe. Whether you are able to contribute money, non-perishable food, clothing and other supplies, or your time by volunteering or providing temporary housing, every bit helps."

This marks the third consecutive year Metallica have offered wildfire relief, donating $100k in 2018 and playing a relief show in San Francisco in 2017.

"Sadly, for the third year in a row, communities we have called home throughout the state of California are again experiencing the tragedy left in the wake of wildfires," the post reads. 

Earlier this year, Metallica and All Within My Hands, along with Feeding America, held their second annual Day Of Service, inviting volunteers to visit food banks in communities that supported the band on their extensive WorldWired Tour. They also donated about $277,000 toward construction of Romania’s first children’s cancer center in August, and $70,000 to assist Germany's youth welfare services. 

Metallica: "One" | For The Record

Back on the U.S. west coast, the recent fires have devastated areas of both Northern and Southern California displacing thousands and causing power outages for more than half a million people to prevent the fires from spreading. According to Cal Fire, the fires have burned over 75,000 acres this year in its jurisdiction. 

For more info on how you can support, visit the All Within My Hands website.

Janis Joplin Musical 'A Night With Janis Joplin' Hits Cinemas Nationwide